Tubular string valve devices



Feb. 24, 1959 Filed Aug. 12, 1955 R. c. BAKER ET-AL 2,874,931

TUBULAR STRING VALVE DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M Kw e2 9 a? 26 aaINVENTOR.

Rama C. 4 656 7 BYMRTYNE CONRAD M M M 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. c. BAKER ET ALTUBULAR STRING VALVE DEVICES 54 ---jas Feb. 24, 1959 Filed Aug. 12, 19552 M Ma a M w h BYMART/N B. CONRAD United States Patent t TUBULAR STRINGVALVE DEVICES Reuben C. Baker, Coalinga, and Martin B. Conrad, Downey,Califi, assignors to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., acorporation of California Application August 12, 1955, Serial No.527,996 12 Claims. (Cl. 251 -218) The present invention relates to valvedevices, and more particularly to valves capable of use in well boresfor the purpose of controlling flow of fluids between the interior andexterior of tubular strings, such as tubing and drill pipe.

An object of the present invention is to provide a telescopic valve,particularly useful in a tubular string to be disposed in a well bore,which can be easily and repeatedly shifted between open and closedpositions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a telescopic valve of thecharacter indicated which can be shifted to open position by rotatingthe tubular string in a right-hand direction, and which is shiftable toclosed position without the necessity for rotating the tubular string ineither direction. By virtue of the valve being operable in this manner,there is no opportunity for the threaded joints of the tubular string tounscrew or loosen inadvertently.

A further object of the invention is to provide a telescopic valve to beincorporated in a tubular string adapted for disposition in a well bore,in which the valve is capable of transmitting the turning effort of thetubular string to another tool connected to the lower end of the valve,

both when the valve is in an open position and in a closed embodied.This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and formingspar t of thepresent specification. It will now be described in detail, for thepurpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but itis to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken ina limiting sense, since the. scope of the invention is best defined bythe appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, partially in side elevation, of avalve device, with its parts in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, with the valve device in openposition;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional and side elevational view of the valvedevice in open position, the valve being movable toward closed position;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 4-4 on Fig. 2.

The valve device A disclosed in the drawings is adapted to be secured tothe lower portion of a tubular string 8, such as. tubing or drill pipe,extending to the top of a well bore and by means of which it is loweredthrough "ice the latter to the desired location at which the apparatusis to be used. The lower portion of the 'valve device A is attachable toa lower tool C, only the body portion of which is disclosed. The lowertool C may be a well packer adapted to be anchored in packed-elfcondition in a well casing as a result of imposing a downward weight onthe packer elements (not shown).

The valve device A includes an inner mandrel or body 10 threadedlyconnected to the lower end of the tubular string B, and telescopicallydisposed within an outer mem her or housing 11, the lower portion 12 ofwhich is threadedly attached to the upper end of the body C of the lowertool. The outer housing 11 may consist of the lower portion 12 justdescribed, which is threaded into an upper housing portion 13terminating in an upper inwardly directed flange 14, the lower face ofwhich provides a downwardly facing stop shoulder 15. Adjacent and abovethe lower housing portion 12, the upper portion 13 may be provided witha plurality of side ports 16 which establish communication between theinterior and exterior of the housing 11.

The lower housing portion 12 has an internal cylindrical valve seatingsurface 17 thereon terminating in a stop shoulder 18 against which thelower end 19 of the inner mandrel 10 can engage. This inner mandrel in?cludes an upper portion 20 which is threaded onto a lower portion 21.When threadedly attached to each other to their fullest extent, theupper and lower mandrel portions 20, 21 provide an external groove 22,which is defined between a lower outwardly directed shoulder or flange23 on the lower portion and the lower end 24 of the upper portion. Avalve sealing structure 25 is secured in this groove. As specificallydisclosed, the

valve seal includes a generally U-shaped rubber or rubberlike seal ring26 encompassed by a metallic reinforcing ring disposed therewithin, theperiphery of the metallic ring and the peripheral portion of thenon-metallic seal ring being substantially flush with each other.

When the mandrel ltl occupies its lower position within the housing 11,the lower part 10a of the mandrel, which actually constitutes a valvehead, and the seal structure 25 are disposed within the cylindricalvalve seat 17, the seal ring 26 sealing against the latter, to close theports 16 and prevent fluid from flowing between the interior of themandrel 10 and theexterior of the housing 11. The lower end of themandrel may have diametrically opposed slots 28 provided therein for thereception of a suitable tool or wrench (not shown) in threading thelower mandrel portion 21 into the upper mandrel portion 20. This lowerend 19 is adapted to seat against the lower shoulder or stop 18 provided.on the lower portion 12 of the housing, which will determine thelowermost position of the mandrel 10 within the housing ll, and whichwill also facilitate transmission of torque or rotary motion between themandrel and the housing, as described hereinbelow.

The mandrel 10 can be telescoped downwardly with respect to the housing11 to place the valve head 10a in port closing position within thecylindrical seat 17, without the necessity of rotating the mandrel ineither direction. However, rotation of the mandrel 10 to elfect itselevation to port opening position is required. As is specificallydisclosed, the housing member 13 above the ports 16 is provided withinternal left-hand threads 29 of a ratchet type, which threads areengageable by companion external threads 30 provided on a split ratchetsleeve or ring 31 encompassing the mandrel. The ratchet ring 31 has aplurality of longitudinally spaced internal cam surfaces 32 that areinclined in a downward and outward direction cooperable with companionlongitudinally spaced external cam surfaces 33 on the upper mam drelmember 20, to insure that the ratchet ring 31 can be urged in an outwarddirection, to place its threads in full meshing engagement with theinternal threads 29 of the mandrel. The upper ends of the camsurfaces-32 on the ratchet ring terminate at cylindrical holdingsurfaces 34 parallel to the axis of the apparatus, which are engageablewith companion external cylindrical surfaces 35 that extend downwardlyfrom the ends of the external cam surfaces 33 on the mandrel. When theholding surfaces 34, 35 are in engagement with each other, the ratchetring 31 is held in its outward direction in full threaded engagementwith the internal housing thread 23. Such position is definitelydetermined by the engagement of the lower end 36 of the ratchet sleevewith a lower outwardly directed shoulder or flange 37 on the mandrel.

Upon relative downward movement of the mandrel It) with respect to theratchet ring 31, the holding surfaces 34, 35 are moved out of engagementto each other, the upper cam portion 33 on the mandrel being disposedoppositev an internal recess 38 in the ratchet sleeve 31, and the lowercam portion 32 of the ratchet sleeve being opposite a peripheral groove39 in the mandrel. When the parts are in this position (see Fig. 3), thesplit ratchet ring 31 can be cammed inwardly by the internal andexternal threads 29', 30 to disengage the latter from each other andpermit the mandrel 10 to be moved downwardly and without rotation withinthe housing 11, in the manner hereinafter described.

The mandrel It) can push the ratchet ring 31 down through the internallythreaded housing 11, and without rotation, by causing a downwardlydirected shoulder 40 on the mandrel to engage a split thrust ring 41encompassing the mandrel below the shoulder, the thrust ring 41, inturn,'engaging the upper end of the ratchet sleeve 31. When the ratchetsleeve 31 is being pushed down through the housing, the lower stopshoulder 37 on the mandrel is spaced downwardly a particular distancefrom the lower end 36 of the ratchet sleeve (Fig. 3).

As stated above, the valve is shifted to open position as a result ofrotating the mandrel It in a right-hand direction. The rotation of themandrel is transmitted to the ratchet ring 31 through a pin or key 42secured to the mandrel 1t) and extending outwardly into an enlarged holeor opening 43 in the split ratchet ring at the leading end portion ofthe latter. When the mandrel 10 is turned to the right, the pin 42 willengage the leading side of the hole 43 and will tend to pull the ratchetring 31 inwardly slightly, so that its threads 30 do not bind againstthe companion. internal threads 29 of the housing 11. The mandrel 10 isrotated, to rotate the ratchet ring 31, which will cause the latter andthe man drel to thread upwardly with respect to the housing 11, to shiftthe valve head Ida and its sealing structure 25 upwardly and out of thecylindrical seat 17 for the pur pose of opening the ports 16.'

The apparatus A is made up. at the top of the well bore and, the mandrel1t lowered within the housing 11 to its fullest extent. Such loweringmovement will cause the mandrel shoulder 40 to engage the thrust ring41, urging the latter against the ratchet ring 31'. The ratchet ringwill contract, because of the camming action of the internal threads 29on the external ratchet ring threads 33, the ring being movabledownwardly and without rotation along the internal threads 29' until thelower end 1? of the mandrel engages the housing. shoulder 18, whichassures disposition of the valve head 10a and its seal 25 in propersealing relation to the cylindrical valve seat 17. At this time, theratchet ring 31 will be elevated slightly above the mandrel shoulder 37.Since it is desired, when the apparatus is in the well bore, tomanipulate the toolC secured to the lower end of the valve mechanism, byimparting left-hand turning effort to the mandrel 1!}, the latter,following engagement of. its lower end 19 with the stop shoulder 18 onthe lower gem-ps1 housing 12, is turned the required distance to theleft, which will effect downward feeding of the ratchet sleeve 31 alongthe mandrel 1G and the housing 11 to the position in which the lower end36 of the ratchet sleeve engages the stop shoulder 37 on the mandrel,which is the position shown in Fig. l.

The lower end of the housing 11 is threadedly secured to the body of thetool C, such as a retrievable packer, and the apparatus is then loweredin the well bore or well casing by means of the tubular string Battached to the upper end of the mandrel 10. When the location isreached at which the lower tool Cis to be operated or set, a left-handtorque is taken on the mandrel 1t). Inasmuch as the ratchet ring 31cannot move downwardly along the mandrel 10 to any further extent, andsince the lower end 19 of the mandrel engages the stop shoulder 13 onthe housing, such left-hand torque is transmitted through the pin 42 andthe ratchet ring 31 to the housing 11, and from the housing to. the bodyof the retrievable. packer C, the latter then being manipulated so as tocause its setting, as by lowering the: tubular string B and the valvedevice A the required distance, for the purpose of effecting ananchoring of the slips and packing structure (both. not shown) of thelower tool C against the wall of the well casing.

When the valve is to be opened, the tubing string B and mandrel. 10 arerotated to the right, the rotation being transmitted through the pin. 42to the ratchet ring 31. This right-hand rotation will elevate theratchet ring 31. along the mandrel It] and the housing 11 until thelower end of the ratchet sleeve hole 43 engages the pin 42, whereuponthe mandrel It) will elevate, to raise its head 10a: and seal 25completely out of the cylindrical seat 17', to open the. side ports 16.The upward threading motion then proceeds until the split thrust ring 41engages the inwardly directed shoulder 15 at the upper end of thehousing, whereupon further rotation of the mandrel 16 relative tothehousing 11 cannot take place. At this time, if desired, any right-handrotation of the tubular string B and-mandrel will be transmitted throughthe pin 42 and ratchet sleeve 31 to the housing 11, causing the latterto rotate, as well as the body of the lower tool C connected thereto.

If it is desired to again close the valve, it is only necessary to shiftthe mandrel 1t) downwardly with respect to the housing 11.Downwardmovement of the housing will be resisted or prevented by thetool C connected to its lower'portion. When the mandrel is shifteddownwardly, it. will be placed in a position with respect to the ratchetsleeve 31, in which the mandrel holding surfaces 35 are out of alignmentwith the ratchet sleeve holding surfaces 34. The parts. will occupy theposition disclosed in Fig. 3, wherein the mandrel shoulder 40 engagesthe thrust ring 41, the latter engaging the upper end of the ratchetsleeve 31. A mere downward movement of the mandrel 10 will now allow theratchet'sleeve 31 to retract, ratcheting past the internal threads 29until the. mandrel 10 is disposed in its lowermost position within thehousing: once again, such as shown in Fig. 1-, in which the ports 16 areclosed. When the lower end 11 of; the mandrel engages the stop shoulder18' in the housing, the ratchet sleeve. 31 will be in a higher positionthan the one illustrated, since the sleeve will be up. against thethrust ring 41. As'was pointed out above, however, if it is againdesired to transmit left-handrotation through the: mandrel ltl'to thehousing 11 and the body of the lower tool C, the tubing string B andmandrel 16 are merely rotated to the-left by a slight amount, whichmotion; will be transmitted from the pin 42 to the ratchet sleeve 31,causing the latter to thread downwardly alongthe' housing threads 29- tothe position shown in Fig. 1, andinto engagement with the'lower mandrelshoulder 37. Left-hand] rotation: can. now be transmitted betweentheimandrel: 1th and the: housing 11.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the merely byrotating the tubular string B and mandrel to the right. t can be shiftedto closed position without the necessity for rotating the tubing stringand mandrel 1n the reverse direction, or, for that matter, from rotatingin either direction. All that is necessary is to move the mandrel 10downwardly within the housing 11, the ratchet sleeve 31 ratcheting overthe threads 29 until the valve head 10a and the sealing structure 25 arefully disposed within the cylindrical seat 17.

The inventors claim:

1. In a control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string fordisposition in a well bore: first and second telescopically arrangedmembers adapted to be moved into and out of valve sealing relation withrespect to each other to place said valve selectively in open positionor closed position; said first member having a first thread; a latchmember movable with and laterally on said second member and having asecond thread companion to and meshable with said first thread; saidlatch member being movable laterally in one direction on said secondmember into threaded engagement with said first thread to enable saidtelescopically arranged members to rotate and move longitudinally in onedirection relative to each other to place said telescopically arrangedmembers in one of said valve positions; said latch member being movablelaterally in the other direction on said second member to an extentsufficient to bring said threads out of engagement with each other toenable said latch member and second member to be moved relativelylongitudinally in the other direction and without rotation past saidfirst thread and along said first member to place said telescopicallyarranged members inthe other of said valve positions, said threads beingof sufiicient longitudinal extent that said second thread meshes withsaid first thread when said telescopically arranged members are in saidone of said valve positions and alsowhen said telescopically arrangedmembers in said other of said valve positions; means coupling said latchmember and said other member against substantial rotation with ret spectto each other; and stop means on said telescopically arranged membersengageable with each other when said valve is in one of said positionsto permit rotary motion to be transmitted from one of saidtelescopically arranged members through said coupling means and latchmember to said other telescopically arranged member.

2. In a control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string fordisposition in alwell bore: first and second telescopically arrangedmembers adapted to be moved into and out of valve sealing relation withrespect to each other to place said valve selectively in open positionor closed position; said first member having a first thread; anexpansible and retractable latch ring movable with and laterally on saidsecond member and having a second thread companion to and meshable withsaid first thread; said latch ring beingmovable laterally irronedirection on said second member into threaded engagement with said firstthread to enable said members to rotate and move longitudinally in onedirection relative to each other to place said members in one of saidvalve positions; said latch ring being movable laterally in the otherdirection on said second member to an extent sufficient to bring saidthreads out of engagement with each other to enable said latch memberand second member said members engageable with each other when saidvalve is in one of said positions to permit rotary motion to betransmitted from one of said members through said coupling means andlatch ring to the other of said members.

3. In a control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string fordisposition in a well bore: inner and outer members telescopicallyarranged one within the other and having valve elements coengageable toclose the valve upon relative longitudinal movement in one directionbetween said members and disengageable from each other to open the valveupon relative longitudinal movement in the opposite direction betweensaid members; one of said members having a first thread; a laterallymovable latch member movable longitudinally with said other member andalso movable longitudinally relative to said other member and having asecond thread companion to and meshable with said first thread; meanscoupling said latch member and said other member against substantialrotation with respect to each other; said threads being engageable witheach other to effect relative longitudinal movement between said membersin one direction in response to relative rotation between said members;said latch member being adapted to ratchet along said first thread topermit relative non-rotary longitudinal movement between said members inthe opposite direction; coengageable holding surfaces on said latchmember and said other member for holding said second thread meshed withsaid first thread when said latch member occupies one longitudinalposition on said other member, said surfaces being disengageable whensaid latch member oc cupies another longitudinal position on said othermember to permit said latch member to ratchet along said first thread;and stop means on said telescopically arranged members engageable witheach other when said threads are meshed to permit rotary motion to betransmitted from one of said telescopically arranged members throughsaid coupling means and latch member to'said other telescopicallyarranged member.

4. In a control valve adapted to be securedto a tubular string fordisposition in a well bore: inner and outer members telescopicallyarranged one within the other and having valve elements coengageable toclose the valve upon relative longitudinal movement in one directionheto be moved relatively longitudinally in the other direc- ,tion andwithout rotation past said first thread and said first thread whensaidmembers are in said oneof said valve positions and alsowhen said membersare in said other of said valve positions; means coupling said latchring and said other member against substantial rotationwith respect toeach other; and stop means on tween said members and disengageable fromeach other to open the valve upon relative longitudinal movement in theopposite direction between said members; said outer member having aninternal thread; a laterally movable latch member movable longitudinallywith said inner member and also longitudinally relative to said innermember and having an external thread companion to and meshable with saidinternal thread; means coupling said latch member and inner memberagainst substantial rotation with respect to each other; said threadsbeing engageable with each other to effect relative longitudinalmovement between said members in one direction in response to relativerotation between said members; said latch member being adapted toratchet along said internal thread to permit relative non-rotarylongitudinal movement between said members in the opposite direction;coengageable holding surfaces on said latch member and inner member forholding said external thread meshed with said internal thread when saidlatch member occupies one longitudinal position on said inner member,said surfaces being disengageable when said latch member occupiesanother longitudinal position on said inner member to permit said latchmember to ratchet along said 1 internal thread; and stop means on saidtelescopically arlar string for disposition in a well bore: inner andouter agerasst tion between said members and disengageable from eachother to open the valve upon relative longitudinal movement in theopposite direction between said members; one of said members having afirst thread; a laterally movable latch member movable longitudinallywith said other member and also movable longitudinally relative to saidother member and having a second thread companion to and meshable withsaid first thread; means coupling said latch member and said othermember against substantial rotation with respect to each other; saidthreads being engageable with each other to effect relative longitudinalmovement between said members in one direction in response to relativerotation between said members; said latch member being adapted toratchet along said first thread to permit relative non-rotarylongitudinal movement between said members in the opposite direction:coengageable holding surfaces on said latch member and said other memberfor holding said second thread meshed with said first thread when saidlatch member occupies one longitudinal position on said other member,said surfaces being disengageable when said latch member cupies anotherlongitudinal position on said other member to permit said latch memberto ratchet along said first thread; and coengageable stop means on saidtelescopically arranged members limiting the extent of relativelongitudinal movement between said telescopically arranged members in avalve opening direction to permit rotary motion to be transmitted fromone of said telescopically arranged members through said coupling meansand latch member to said other telescopically arranged member.

6. In a control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string fordisposition in a well bore: inner and outer members telescopicallyarranged one within the other and having valve elements coengageable toclose the valve upon relative longitudinal movement in one directionbetween said members and disengageable from each other to open the valveupon relative longitudinal movement in the opposite direction betweensaid members; said outer member having an internal thread; a laterallymovable latch member movable longitudinally with said inner member andalso longitudinally relative to said inner member and having an externalthread companion to and meshable with said internal thread; meanscoupling said latch member and inner member against substantial rotationwith respect to each other; said threads being engageable with eachother to eifect relative longitudinal movement between said members inone direction in response to relative rotation between said members;said latch member being adapted to ratchet along said internal thread topermit relative non-rotary longitudinal movement between said members inthe opposite direction; coengageable holding surfaces on said latchmember and inner member for holding said external thread meshed withsaid internal thread when said latch member occupies one longitudinalposition on said inner member, said surfaces being disengageable whensaid latch member occupies another longitudinal position on said innermember to permit said latch member to ratchet along said internalthread; and coengageable stop means on said members limiting the extentof relative longitudinal movement between said members in both valveopening and valve closing directions to permit rotary motion to betransmitted from one of said telescopically arranged mem bers throughsaid coupling means and latch member to said other telescopicallyarranged member. 7

7. In a controlvalve adapted to be secured to a tubular string fordisposition in a well bore: an outer member; an inner member'connectibleto the tubular string and telescopically disposed Within saidroutermember;

said inner and outer members having valve elements thereon coengageableto close the valve upon relative downward movement of said inner memberin said outer member and disengageable from each other to open the valveupon relative upward movement of said inner member in said outer member;'said outer member having an internal thread; a laterally movable latchmember movable longitudinally with said inner member and having anexternal thread companion to and meshable with said internal thread;means coupling said latch member and inner member for rotation together;said threads being engageable with each other in response to rotation ofsaid inner member to effect upward longitudinalmovement of said innermember within said outer member to disengage said valve elements; saidlatch member being adapted to ratchet downwardly along said internalthreads to permit non-rotary downward movement of said inner member insaid outer member to engage said valve elements with each other to closethe valve; and stop means on said inner and outer members engageablewith each other when said threads are meshed to permit rotary motion tobe transmitted from one of said telescopically arranged members throughsaid coupling means and latch member to said other telescopicallyarranged member.

8. In a control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string fordisposition in a well bore: an outer member; an inner member connectibleto the tubular string and telescopically disposed within said outermember; said inner and outer members having valve elements thereoncoengageable to close the valve upon relative downward movement of saidinner member in said outer member and disengageable from each other toopen the valve upon relative upward movement of said inner member insaid outer member; said outer member having an internal thread; alaterally movable latch member movable longitudinally with said innermember and having an external thread companion to and meshable with saidinternal thread; means coupling said latch member and inner member forrotation together; said threads being engageable with each other inresponse to rotation of said inner member to effect upward longitudinalmovement of said inner member within said outer member to disengage saidvalve elements; said latch member being adapted to ratchet downwardlyalong said internal threads to permit non-rotary downward movement ofsaid inner member in said outer member to engage said valve elementswith each other to close the valve; and stop means lar string fordisposition in a well bore: an outer member; an inner member connectibleto the tubular string and telescopically disposed within said outermember; said inner and outer members having valve elements thereoncoengageable to close the valve upon relative downward movement of, saidinner member in said outer member and disengageable from each other toopen the valve upon relative upward movement of 'said inner member insaid outer member; said outer member having an internal thread; a splitexpansible and contractible latch ring movable longitudinally with saidinner member and having an external thread companion to and meshablewith said internal thread; said latch ring having an opening adjacentthe leading end of its split; a pin on said inner member within saidopening for engagement with the leading portion of said latch ring totransmit rotary motion of said inner member to said latch ring; saidthreads being engageable with each other to efiect upward movement ofsaid inner member within said outer member in response to rotation ofsaid inner member by said tubular string to disengage said valveelements from each other to open the valve; said latch ring beingadapted to ratchet downwardly along said internal thread to permitnon-rotary downward movement of said inner member in said outer memberto coengage said valve elements to close the valve.

10. In a control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string fordisposition in a well bore: an outer memher; an inner member connectibleto the tubular string and telescopically disposed within said outermember; said inner and outer members having valve elements thereoncoengageable to close the valve upon relative downward movement of saidinner member in said outer member and disengageable from each other toopen the valve upon relative upward movement of said inner mem ber insaid outer member; said outer member having an internal thread; a split,expansible and contractible latch ring movable longitudinally with saidinner member and having an external thread companion to and meshablewith said internal threads; said latch ring having an opening adjacentthe leading end of its split; a pin on said inner member within saidopening for engagement with the leading portion of said latch ring totransmit rotary motion of said inner member to said latch ring; saidthreads being engageable with each other to effect upward movement ofsaid inner member within said outer member in response to rotation ofsaid inner member by said tubular string to disengage said valveelements from each other to open the valve; said latch ring beingadapted to ratchet downwardly along said internal thread to permitnonrotary downward movement of said inner member in said outer member tocoengage said valve elements to close the valve; and coengageable stopmeans on said members limiting the extent of downward and upwardmovement of said inner member within said outer member.

11. In a control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string fordisposition in a well bore: an outer mem- 10 ber; an inner memberconnectible to the tubular string and telescopically disposed withinsaid outer member; said inner and outer members having valve elementsthereon coengageable to close the valve upon relative downward movementof said inner member in said outer member and disengageable from eachother to open the valve upon relative upward movement of said innermember in said outer member; said outer member having an internalthread; a split, expansible and contractible latch ring movablelongitudinally with said inner member and having an external threadcompanion to and meshable with said internal threads; said latch ringhaving an opening adjacent the leading end of its split; a pin on saidinner member within said opening for engagement with the leading portionof said latch ring to transmit rotary motion of said inner member tosaidlatch ring; said threads being engageable with each other to effectupward movement of said inner member within said outer member inresponse to rotation of said inner member by said tubular string todisengage said valve elements from each other to open the valve; saidlatch ring being adapted to ratchet downwardly along said internalthread to per mit non-rotary downward movement of said inner member insaid outer member to coengage said valve elements to close the valve;coengageable stop means on said members limiting the extent of downwardand upward move ment of said inner member within said outer member; andmeans on said inner member engaging said latch ring to hold said latchring outwardly in threaded engagement with said inner threads.

12. A control valve as defined in claim 6; wherein said threads are inmesh when said stop means are coengaged with said valve closed and alsowith said valve open.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

